Key Facts & Information

Overview

In the first dozen years of the 21st century, the Digital Age, you can send and receive email from around the world in the span of a few minutes. Surgeons routinely perform laser surgery that results in less bleeding and faster healing time. Our Air Force defends our skies using electronics-based aircraft that can almost fly itself! What is one of the connections among these advances? Photonics technology! Photonics is the science of using light and electronic devices to create tools that improve our lives. Isn't it amazing that light can solve so many different kinds of problems?

Key Requirements

Meticulous and detail-oriented personality, should enjoy solving problems, teamwork skills are extremely important as is the ability to clearly state and share ideas

Training, Other Qualifications

Most photonics engineers begin as assistants to experienced engineers. As they gain experience, they may become supervisors or specialize in a particular aspect of laser or fiber-optics technology. Some engineers advance to management positions. A few engineers with the necessary education can become research directors or principal engineers. Engineers may also advance by starting their own consulting or manufacturing companies.

Photonics engineers should learn how to use systems for computer-assisted design and drafting (or CADD) and computer-assisted manufacturing (or CAM). The laser and fiber-optics field is advancing rapidly, and engineers in this profession must continually update their knowledge to maintain their expertise by taking classes.

Education and Training

You need at least a bachelor's degree in one of several engineering specialties to enter this field. These degrees include electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, engineering science, or engineering physics. Some colleges and universities offer degrees in optics technology or photonics. It usually takes four to five years to earn a bachelor's degree in engineering. Certain positions in the laser and fiber-optics profession, such as optical designer, require an advanced degree. You can obtain a master's degree in one or two years of additional full-time study. It generally takes about four years of study after earning a bachelor's degree to receive a PhD. A PhD is required to teach at the university level in this field as well as for industrial research and development positions.

Other Qualifications

Photonics engineers should be creative, inquisitive, analytical, and detail oriented. They should be able to work as part of a team and to communicate well, both orally and in writing. Communication skills are becoming increasingly important as photonics engineers frequently interact with specialists in a wide range of fields outside of engineering.

Nature of the Work

In this video Dr. Stanley Rogers of the Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base describes what photonics is and how it can be used in several applications.

Advances in technology and communications move at the speed of light. Much of our communications system is based on transmitting information, in the form of light, through optical fibers. Engineers who develop the tools and technical applications of light are called photonics engineers. The science of photonics is the generation, transmission, modulation, and detection of light.

Photonics engineers are concerned with devising and improving sources of light and the optical fibers that the light travels through. These engineers must have a thorough knowledge of physics, engineering, and optics. Working in this field allows one to investigate a variety of areas. Photonics engineers can:

Design and modify laser equipment and components for manufacturing, defense, telecommunications, and medicine. Lasers can be made from semiconductors or from gas.

As the need increases for humans to share information faster using precision equipment, photonics engineers can expect to be at the forefront of cutting-edge technology.

Work Environment

Most photonics engineers work in office buildings, laboratories, or industrial plants. Some engineers travel extensively to plants or work sites, both in the U.S. and abroad. Many engineers work a standard 40-hour week. At times, however, deadlines or design standards may bring extra pressure to a job, requiring engineers to work longer hours.

Additional Support

You can find this page online at: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-engineering-careers/engineering/photonics-engineer

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